Filler cap



A. L. MINELLA, JR

FILLER CAP Feb. 25, 1947. 2,416,637

Filed March 484,' 1944 A2 sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 25, 1947. A. L. MINELL'A, JR

FILLER (JAP-l Filed March 8, 1944 2 Sheefcs-Sheet 2 n x f f a, A

Patented Fes. 2s, '1947 FILLER CAP Andrew Louis Minella, Jr., San Diego, Calif.. as

signor to Consolidated Vnltee Aircraft Corporation, San Diego, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application Marchi, 1944, Serial No. 525,498

The invention relates' to filler caps yfor fuel tanks or cells.

In aircraft, it is necessary to provide for quick re-fueling of tanks or cells and to insure against leaks from the loosening of the cap by vibration.

' The main object of the invention is to provide an improved filler cap which is easily removable and replaceable forme-fueling, and can be securely locked against loosening by vibration to which the'tank and cap are subjected in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filler cap which insures safety from leaks and is securely retained in its closed position.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description. 15 and arms 24 extend through diametrlcally oppo- The invention consists in the several novel feasite longitudinal slots 22 in the housing 22. The tures hereinafter set forth and more particularly gripping member 23 iS slidable in the housing 22 defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. and arms, 24 extend through slots 22n to connect In the drawings: said member and the housing 22 and cover b for 'Fig. 1 is a section-of a filler cap taken on line 20 conjoint rotation. I-I of Fig. 2, the cover being in its closed posi- The device for shifting the gripping member 23 tion. into operative relation with the plate I2 and forc- Fig. 2 is an inverted plan of the device with the ing the cover into sealed relation with the seat I3 cover locked in its closed position. and releasing it for removal comprises, generally, Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig, 2. 25 means, comprising a handle, carried by and ro- Fig. 4 is an inverted plan of the device with tatable relatively tothe cover, a spring in the the cover in its released position. A tubular housing 22, a spring-follower slidable in Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. and rotatable with the housing 22, and means Fig. 6 is a plan of the gripping member. operable by the handle for shifting the follower Fig. Il is a perspective viewed from the under 3 and compressing the spring to clamp the plate I2 side of the plate on the tank which is provided between the gasket 20 in the cover and the gripwithaseat for the cover. ping member 23 and releasing the spring and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the cap on the tank. disengaging the gripping member from the plate Fig. 9 is a perspective of the cover and the de- I2 for the removal ofthe cover. The handle and pending housing. 35 said follower-shifting means are also adapted to Fig. 10 is perspective of the,Y compression rotate the cover when the gripping member is sleeve. released to rotatively position said member for Fig. 11 is a section illustrating a modified form its removal from the tank through the fillerof the invention. opening and are also adapted by reverse rotation, The invention is exemplified on the top of a 40 to slide said member into gripping relation with fuel-tank or cell a having a plate I2 which forms plate l2 after insertion into the tank. a part of the tank and is provided with a ller- The rotatable means carried by the cover for opening. This plate is usually formed of sheet compressing and loading the spring for operating metal, and provided with an upwardly offset and the gripping member 23 to engage and release the upwardly facing annular seat I3 which is curved 45 plate I2 comprises a plate 25 disposed in the cenin cross-section, and an inner downturned flange tral depressed portion of the cover and provided I 4 around the .cylindrical filler-opening. The with a downturned rim 26; a block 21 welded or flange I4 is provided with an oppositely disposed otherwise suitably vsecured to the undersideof pair of helical or inclined cam edges 'I5 between the plate 25; a bail-like handle 23 which has pindiametrically opposite depending stop lugs I5 and 50 ties 29 confined by plate 25 in slots 30 formed in notches I1. the block 2l; a shaft or stem 3|, the upper end The cover or closure b for the filler-opening is of which is riveted to the block 21 and which usually formed of plate metal and comprises a extends downwardly through the gripping memdepending or inwardly extending cylindrical rim ber 23; and a lever 32 which fits around a polyg- IB and a depressed central portion I3 between 56 stem 3| and is 3 Claims. (Cl. 220-40) which is formed an annular channel in which is confined and secured a gasket 20 of rubber or other suitable composition for engaging the annular seat I3 and formingla leak-proof seal between the cover and said plate. A cylindrical shell 22 has its upper end permanently secured, for example by flash welding or in any other suitable manner, to the cover b and-houses the locking mechanism and supports said mechanism from the cover.

A gripping or locking member 23 for internally engaging the plate I2 comprises a central disk 23a and integral radially projecting arms 24. 'I'he disk 23*l slidably fits in the cylindrical housing 22 onal stud 33 on the lower end of `The plate 25 and `stem 3| to which the handle 28 is pivoted. The

, are substantially through the slots ably connect the follower and thehousing for v helical or inclined cam edges 43 secured'on said stud by a nut 34- which is screw- 32 comprisesoppositely extending radial arms 38. A cutter-pin 38 locks the nut 34 on the stud 33. block 21 form a head on the central portion of depressed portion I8' ofthe the cover bl forms a recess in which the head is disposed and into one side of which the handle canl be folded. When the cap is locked on the -threaded to the lower end'of the stud. The lever Y receptacle, the top of the cover, head andhandle flush so that these parts will all be compactly disposed within the cover. When the handle 28 is swung out of the recess, it provides a rm grip for rotating the gripping mechanism. l

The spring-follower comprises a cylindrical or `tubu1ar wan as which slidabiy nts in the cylindrical housing 22 and is provided with outwardly extending U-shaped lugs 38 which extend 22 inthe housing 22 and slidconjoint rotation. The follower is provided with -an integral crosswall 48. The lower end of heavy compression spring 4I is seated on the crosswall 48 and its upper end engages the disk 23. of the gripping member 23 for locking the cover b. The

lower end of -cylindricalvwall 38 is provided with whichare slidby the lever-arms 35, respectively. 43 is' provided at one of its ends ably engaged Each cam edge with a notch 44 and-at'its opposite end with a notch 45. Abutments 48 are formed on the cylindrical wall 38 between the notches at the ends Rotation in one direction of the tank the spring will be unloaded and they gripping member 23 and its arms 24 wills` be spaced fromv the cover a sufficient distance to permit the ,arms to be placed under the annular rim on the plate I2. A relatively light spring 41 is interposed between disk 23L of the gripping member 23 and the cover b and presses the gripping member against the upper end of spring 4| so that when the device is removed from the tank the spring-follower, through spring 4I and member 23, will be pressed downwardly to yieldllngly maintain the follower engaged at notches 44 with. the lever arms 35. An elastic gasket 48 confined in a centrally recessed portion 49 of the l cover, and a washer 50 are interposed between the cover and the block 21 for preventing leakage around the stem 3 I. l

The cover and locking me hanism constitute an assembly which can be untarily inserted and removed throughV the filling opening. When the ller device has been removed from the tank, the handle 28 will be turned so that the arms of lever 32 will be rotatively positioned in notches 44, the spring-follower will be in its lowered position, the spring 4I will be unloaded, the gripping member 23 will be separated from the cover, and the spring 41 will press downwardly on gripping member 23 and through the spring 4I press the follower into its assigned engagement with the lever-arms 35. v

4I until the lever-arms 35 are` andes? The inner end of theliousing is inserted into l the tank through the illler opening with arms 24 of gripping member 23`positione'd for insertion under the notches of the flange I4 on the tank plate I2. The assembly is then tilted for angular insertion of the arms 24 intr,` the tank and below plate I2. The' device is then the cover by further rotation of the handle 28. The handle is then rotatedijn the direction indicated by the arrow inFig. 4. Such rotation of -the handle will rotate lever 32, the arms of which are yieldingly held in notches 45, so that the lever will co'njointly` rotate ing 22, gripping plate 23,- and the cover b until gripping arms 24' strike the abutments I8 on plate I2. The gripping arms 24 will then engage the cam surfaces I5 andprevent the gripping arms and the assembly from being tilted and hold the gasket seated on the plate I2. Abutments i8 will then arrest arms 24 against further rotation in the s ame direction and prevent further corresponding rotation of the cover b, housing 22 and the spring-follower.- 28 in the same direction will be continued to lock the cover on its seat. Such rotation of the handle will rotate the stem 3| in the cover, housing 22, and the spring-follower and cause the arms 35 oflever 32 to rotate out of notches and slide aroundl the cam edges 43 on the follower until the arms 35 are seated in the notches 45 in the follower. The follower will be shifted upwardly and heavily load and compress the spring 4| which will force the arms 24 of the gripping member 23 into locked relation with the plate I2. The seat I3 and flange I4 of the plate I2 will -then be jammed between the internal gripping member 23 and the gasket 20 in the cover against leaks or loosening by vibration. The handle 28, when not in use, can be swung into the recess in the cover.

When the device is locked and is to be removed from lling the tank, thel handle 28 is swung out of the recess in the cover and rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. The initialrotation of the handle in this direction will rotate the lever 32 relatively to the spring-follower while the plate I2 remains gripped between the cover and arms 24. Lever-arms 35 will be rotated out 0f notches 45 and around the cam edges 43 until said arms pass into notches 44 at one side of abutments 46. The spring-follower will be lowered and during such lowering movement spring 4I will be be released suiciently for rotation. The rotation of the handle 28 is continued in the same direction and lever arms 35 engaging abutments 46 at notches 44, will positively rotate the springfollower, the housing V22, gripping member 23, and the cover b until the gripping arms 24 strike abutments I6 on plate I2 at which time arms 24 will be positioned under the notches I1 in the plate 2| for removal from the tank. -The assembly can then be tilted so that arms 24 can be angularly and successively `withdrawn through the filler opening. While the device is Adetached from the tahk, the spring 41 willexert pressure on gripping member 23 which, through spring 4|, will hold the lower cam-edges of the follower yieldingly in engagement with thelever arms 35.

, The lever arms 35 will be yieldingly held" in notches 44 and the handle 28 and stem 3| will be retained in position for rotation of the device through the iilleropening and in readiness-for insertion through the filler opening. v

In the modication illustrated in Fig. 1l, the construction is the same as that previously dein" a position to lock.

the spring-follower, housl The rotationof handle unloaded and the cover will end of follower-sleeve 38 and its upwardly bent resilient ends 52 are adapted to engage the arms 31 so that the cap will be operable as previously described.

The invention exemplifies a detachable illler i cap which is quickly and easily attachable to and detachable from a fuel tank and which provides a closure which is leak-proof and safely locked against loosening by vibration whenused on aircraft.

The invention is not to be understoodvas restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claimsl without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent is:

1. A flllercap assembly for a receptacle having a iiller opening and a seat aroundl the opening, comprising a cover for the filler opening carrying a seat-contacting gasket, a tubular housl ing rigidly secured to the underside of the cover and adapted to extend through said opening, and provided with longitudinal slots, an internal gripping member slidably mounted in the housing and provided with arms extending through said slots and laterally outwardly from the housing, a tubular spring-follower provided with a cross-wall, slidable in thehousing, and provided with-lugs extending into said slots, cams on the lower end of .the tubular follower, a heavy spring inthe tubular 'housing between the gripping member and the crosswall forcing the gripping member toward the cover, a rotatable handle on thgoutand a light spring in the housing between the cover and the gripping memberfor urging the gripping member away from the cover and holding the cams in engagement with the arms when the first named spring is unloaded.

3. A filler cap assembly for a receptacle having a filler openingand a cover seat around the opening, comprising; a cover for the illler opening and adapted toilt on the seat; a tubular housing rigid with the cover and adapted to extend through said opening; an internal gripping member slidably mounted in the housing and provided with arms extending laterally' outwardly from the housing;

follower to load the spring, a light spring in the housing between the cover and the gripping member for urging the gripping member away from the cover and holding the cams in engagement withl the arms when the ilrst named spring is side of the cover, a stem rotatable by the handle,

having a lever fixed to the lower end oi.' the stem and engaging said cams for shifting the follower to 'loadthe spring, and a light spring in .the housing between the coverA and the gripping member `for urging the gripping member away from the cover and holding the cams in engagement with the lever when the ilrst-named spring is unloaded.

2. A filler cap assembly for a receptacle having a filler opening and a cover seat around the opening, comprising; a cover for the illler opening and adapted to it on the seat; a tubular housing rigid with the cover and adapted to extend through said opening; an internal gripping member slidably mounted in the housing and provided with arms extending laterally outwardly from the housing; a spring follower slidable in the housunloaded; and abutments on the cams, rotatable by the arms for rotating follower, housing and gripping member.

ANDREW LOUIS MINELLA, JR.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number v Name Date 1,805,562 Begue, et al. May 19, 1931 2,077,721 Sinko Apr. 20, 1937 2,203,801 Swank June 11, 1940 2,093,624 Thwaits, et al Sept. 21, 1937 2,316,923 Westberg Apr.A 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 666,047 French May 14, 1929 327,256 British Apr. 3, 1930 475,192

v British Nov. 16, 1937 a spring follower slidably and nonrotatable in the housing, cams on the follower; e 

